This is the day that the Lord has made...

This is the day that the  Lord has made, I will rejoice...

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost

Introduction

Pentecost, the Jewish Festival, was a major festival to celebrate the wheat harvest and also known as the Feast of Weeks. It brought visitors from all over who were either Jews or Jewish converts and we get a clue to geography from the reading and Acts 2:41 the numbers as 3000 + become Christians that day, so there were a lot more! What a Day!

Until that day, since the latter part of Good Friday it seems the disciples were in an in-between place and it remained the same since the Resurrection and it also seems they were also fearful, certainly early on, and maybe even later.

At Pentecost they are released in two ways:

1. From this semi-captivity

2. From the last bit of mental captivity to Jewish expectations, cp Acts 1:6

Now, and in the first instance under Peter's leadership, we get what is the first proclamation of the message of true liberation and salvation which comes through Jesus. The fulfillment of promise, birth of the new era of God's Kingdom and so the birth of the Church which is the new Israel etc. This is the start of the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel.

All that proceeds from the monumental words that lead into the sermon from Peter after he quotes Joel and he says:

This is it, this is what God promised through Joel with reference to the last days. It is starting right now with the outpouring of the promised Holy Spirit to all and that mighty things will happen as they are happening right now in your presence. This is it. The Day has arrived and as you see and hear it arrived with a bang.

Today, too often, not always, we are left with a damp squib because some of our understanding of the Holy Spirit is deficit and so without real expectation and you are looking at one who can be as guilty as others! So, for my benefit, and hopefully yours as well, I am going to glance at some verses we have looked at recently along with a few others. 

This then will be a bird's eye view of the work, role and importance of the Holy Spirit.

As 7 is a good and complete number in the Bible, 7 points! Of course, there are other aspects to the work of the HS and other scriptures which make similar or complementary points to the ones I list which are quite key and foundational scriptures.

1. Spade Work

The Holy Spirit opens eyes and hearts to the truth.

John 16:5 -11 - Jesus speaking to his disciples in the upper room

[5] but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' [6] Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. [7] But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. [8] When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: [9] about sin, because people do not believe in me; [10] about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; [11] and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Only God, through the Holy Spirit, can 'convict' people of their need to repent, turn to God through Jesus and come to a living faith. It follows on from here that when a person comes to that point the Holy Spirit moves to the next stage:

2. Birth Work

John 3:3-8 - Jesus in conversation with Nicodemus

[3] Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

[4] "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"

[5] Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' [8] The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Spiritual birth - we are all born physically and as such live and grow into physical awareness. Likewise to be spiritually aware in God's Kingdom we have to have spiritual birth.

John 1:12-13 - John introducing the theme at the start of his gospel

[12] Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

Paul in Romans 8 talks about and compares life lived without and life lived with the HS - worth look at! He comes to this climactic statement which is apt h in what we are thinking where he uses the word for 'adoption' as the work of the HS:

Romans 8:14-17

[14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Galatians 4:4-7 - the same point but a different context and angle:

[4] But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. [6] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." [7] So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Jesus is the eternal and natural Son of the Father and heir of salvation - we are adopted as children, and as such co-heirs with Jesus of all he has inherited!

3. Sealing Work

Seal - as on a legal document showing ownership and authenticity. It follows on from what we have just considered:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

[21] Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

4. Jesus Work

John 14:15-21 - back in the upper room and we looked at this in detail a couple of weeks ago

[15] "If you love me, keep my commands. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. [18] I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [19] Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. [20] On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. [21] Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

ANOTHER advocate - the HS being to us what Jesus was to his disciples before death, resurrection and ascension.

5. Growth Work

Galatians 5:22-26 - being like and becoming more like Jesus by bearing the fruit of the Spirit - note, 'fruit' singular, these are a whole!

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

forbearance, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

[23] gentleness 

and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

How, as we walk in the light of God's word and with the help of the Holy Spirit we are changing and growing!

6. Prayer Work

There is a lot in Romans 8 to challenge, encourage and strengthen us but in terms of prayer I want to look at 2 vv - 8:26-27

[26] In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. [27] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

Paul isn't saying word don't matter but in searching for God's will (you will be done . . . ) words are not always the most important thing and the Holy Spirit helps us align to the will of our heavenly Father

7. Body Work

1 Corinthians 12:1-13

[12:1] Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. [2] You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. [3] Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

[4] There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. [5] There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. [6] There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

[7] Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, 

to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, [9] 

to another faith by the same Spirit, 

to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 

[10] to another miraculous powers, 

to another prophecy,

 to another distinguishing between spirits, 

to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, 

and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 

[11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 

[12] Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

As human beings we have gifts and abilities which we use of the benefit of others as well as ourselves albeit we keep some of them covered up at times!! What Paul outlines here is the oft maligned and neglected gifts of the spirit for the building up of the body of Christ -our brothers and sisters in him.

I was born with gifts, some have to be worked on others come more naturally. What then about when we are born again - cp the conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus? It seems that if we are born of the Spirit and adopted in the family we should have gifts from the Spirit for the benefit and building up of that church family!

Conclusion

Well, as we come out of this, I hope and pray it is with a renewed and invigorated faith and trust where we look to our heavenly Father to do mighty work in our midst and in our lives. A new and renewed liberation from where we have been to where the Lord takes us as churches in France and other countries as well as in us.

Your Kingdom come and keep on doing so, You will be done here as in in heaven and keep on doing so. Your power and glory being seen and appreciated in ever increasing ways, now and until on the very last, only known to you Father, day Jesus returns.

I will be joyful in God my saviour!

Take me with you!

Habakkuk 3:17-18

COMMUNION WITH CHRIST SURPASSES THE HIGHEST FORMS OF EARTHLY JOY

The love of Jesus, communion with Him, is more wonderful than anything that earth can offer. 

This does not make sense to one who is not yet a Christian.

Do you find your chief delight in the Lord Himself? 

Not in the world, not in things, not even in the Lord’s people, but in Him.

Look up Psalm 16:11 and Habakkuk 3:17-18.

Find out more in Words of life ministries

Franciscan prayer of discomfort

May God bless you with discomfort at eay answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless  you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed  for those who suffer with rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference  in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And the blessing of God who creates, redeems and sanctified be upon you and and all you love and pray for, this day and for ever.
In the name of Jesus Amen!

A new heart also will I give you...

I must say that reading the scriptures fill me with joy and it makes ponder..how much we are loved by our Lord! 

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you—and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Good night my friends and sweet dreams ♥ 

Jesus ..said ..Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink

John 7:37

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival,(B) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.(C)38 Whoever believes(D) in me, as Scripture has said,(E) rivers of living water(F) will flow from within them.”[a](G)

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide(A) you always;
    he will satisfy your needs(B) in a sun-scorched land(C)
    and will strengthen(D) your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,(E)
    like a spring(F) whose waters never fail.

This is to be understood not of a natural thirst, though the allusion is to it, which is very painful and distressing; as the instances of the Israelites in the wilderness, Samson after he had slain the Philistines, and our Lord upon the cross, show; much less a sinful thirst, a thirst after the riches, honours, and pleasures of this life;

but a spiritual thirst, or a thirst after spiritual things, after salvation by Christ, and a view of interest in it, free and full pardon of sin through him, justification by his righteousness, a greater degree of knowledge of him, more communion with him, and conformity to him, and after the sincere milk of the word,..

and such that thirst after these things, and eagerly desire them, and are in pain and uneasiness without them, as a man is, who has a violent thirst upon him, are such as are regenerated and quickened by the Spirit of God, and are made sensible of themselves, and of their state and condition by nature. 

Now these Christ invites to come unto him, not to Moses and his law, moral or ceremonial, and to obedience to them, and works of righteousness done by them, to any creature, or creature acts; for these are cisterns without water, where no true peace, joy, righteousness, and salvation are to be had; but to himself, who is the fountain of gardens, the well of living waters, and who is as rivers of water in a dry land, to thirsty souls: 

and when come to him, which is by believing in him, they are encouraged to drink; 

that is, to take of the water of life freely, or to take of his grace freely; salvation by him is of free grace, and the pardon of sin is according to the riches of grace, and justification is freely by his grace, and so all other blessings; and of this they may drink abundantly, or they may partake of it largely: 

there is a fulness of grace in Christ, and there is an abundance of it communicated to his people; it is exceeding abundant; it flows, and overflows, and may be drank of to satisfaction, till their souls are as a watered garden, and they are satisfied with the goodness of the Lord.

Gill exposition

Living in France!

I'm settling down in France slowly but surely. In September I started teaching in a secondary school in Angouleme and I love it. What is demanding is driving there from where we live in Civray (Vienne) because I need to be there just before 8 a.m. three days a week. I need to live our house at 6:30 to get there for 7:30 and I usually find a parking place in the Parking blanc. 

So I welcome the holidays! I am going to be able to sleep a little more in the  morning instead of getting up at 6 a.m. I might also go to bed later than 11 p.m. without feeling exhausted in the morning. 

The last day of term at our school was great. We were all gathered in the court yard at 11 and listened to every year presentation on different themes. Students expressed what they felt about the main Christian themes: Joy, Love, Hope, Peace in different ways. The most poignant was the Year 7 call to stop the persecution of Christian in Aleppo and to help the Syrian refugees.

At lunch time I went in town for lunch with four colleagues and had a cheesy omelette with Gruyere.   

On the Thursday, it is customary for the English teachers to set up a Christmas market in the préau. It was well attended. The kids loved it, they could buy two different kins of mince pies, small and normal size, crackers, and plenty of other artefacts that my colleagues managed to order a month ago!

Wednesday afternoon, Steven and I managed to have some quiet time in St Macoux. There is a restaurant by the side of a étang and we had a drink and a place of chips. Not many birds in sight though because it was cold!

Let's rejoice always

My soul is so dry

Lord...
My soul is so dry that by itself it cannot pray;
Yet you can squeeze from it the juice of a thousand prayers.

My soul is so parched that by itself it cannot love;
Yet you can draw from it boundless love for you
and for my neighbour.

My soul is so cold that by itself it has no joy;
Yet you can light the fire of heavenly joy within me.

My soul is so feeble that by itself it has no faith;
Yet by your power my faith grows to a great height.

Thank you for prayer, for love, for joy, for faith;
Let me always be prayerful, loving, joyful, faithful.

Guigo the Carthusian, died 1188

Guigo was a Carthusian monk in the 12th Century (1140-1193) who elaborated on St. Benedict’s practice of Lectio Divina from the 6th Century. The Carthusians were a contemplative, ascetic religious order of monks founded in the early 12th century.
Guigo knew the sweetness of meditating on Bible passages and he wrote about this almost 900 years ago in his book, The Ladder of Monks. 

You don’t have to be a monk to climb the ladder of monks that stretch up into the heavens! His words set the table with the manna from heaven that we all hunger for!

This morning, I picked up 'Just as I am' by Ruth Etchells, a wonderful prayer book that I enjoyed reading a few years ago. And as I read the above prayer I wanted to know a  bit more about the author, Guigo the Carthusian. 

Have a blessed day!

Peace and joy at Easter!

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17

A generous person will prosper...A kind-hearted woman gains honor

Proverbs 11

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
    but accurate weights find favor with him.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.

8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.

9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
    but victory is won through many advisers.

15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

19 Truly the righteous attain life,
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
    but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!